These two teams were expected to set the World Cup ablaze when the competition started, but they have been far from being as impressive as that. The French team were considered to have the best-attacking talents in this competition, but they have scored only two goals so far and one was a penalty. Les Blues started their campaign with a 2-1 win over Australia before earning a 1-0 win over Peru. Their last group game against Denmark was expected to be a cracker, but it ended as a bore draw. They would need to get better when they get forward, else they could be eliminated by this lucky Argentinian team. Argentina started their campaign with a 1-1 draw against minors Iceland with Lionel Messi missing a penalty, their next game against Croatia ended in an embarrassing 3-0 loss. They needed to win their last game against Nigeria after the Africans had beaten Iceland 2-0. That match saw Lionel Messi score his first goal of the competition in the first half, but Nigeria equalized in the second half. The two teams began to search for the winner, and the Nigerians had countless chances to get it, but they spurned them. In the end, Marcos Rojo scored a fine volley in the 86th minute and that was enough to set up this clash.

This game would be one of the most exciting as it is one of the most anticipated matches of this competition. England and Belgium have already qualified, but we expect them to both still field a strong team as they attempt to top the group at the expense of the other team. This English team is arguably the first time an English team has not been overrated or overhyped before a major competition. Gareth Southgate has built a cohesive team and they are as exciting as they are productive on the field of play. England started their campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Tunisia, however, in their second game against Panama they were so devastating it looked as if they would end the game with double figures. They were 5-0 at the break and eventually won 6-1 to top the group ahead of Belgium. Belgium are also a talent-filled attacking team. They started by beating Panam 3-0 in their first match before rolling over Tunisia 5-2 in their next game. This would be the first time they would face genuine oppositions in this competition and we expect them to put up a good fight. Romelu Lukaku has hit four goals in this competition already and he would be looking to add to that figure when this game has ended.

The Senegalese are the only remaining African team after Nigeria got eliminated at the hands of Argentina, so they are carrying the hopes of millions of Africans as they head into this match. They started their campaign on a bright note after beating group favourites Poland 2-1, they would have qualified easily with a win their second game, but they let themselves down by allowing the Japanese to come back and score them each time they went ahead to end the game 2-2. They now have their work cut out as they try to reach the next round, however, a draw is all they need to progress. Colombia were expected to still perform their heroics of Brazil 2014 in this competition, but their group stage games started on a poor note. They lost 2-1 to Japan in their opening game, thanks in part to them going a man and a goal down in the first five minutes. They battled hard and almost got a draw in that game before the Koreans took advantage of being a man up to win 2-1. They turned on the style in their next game to beat Poland 3-0, they need to win this game to stand any chance of making it to the next round where they would face England or Belgium.

Poland were considered favourites alongside Colombia as teams who should qualify from this group after they qualified for the World Cup without much stress, however, the Poles head into this game already eliminated after suffering two losses in as many games. Japan were not given much of a chance in the pre-tournament predictions, but they started on a bright note when they beat ten-man favourites Colombia 2-1 in their first game. They followed out up with a resilient 2-2 draw against Senegal after going a goal down each time. They need just one point from this game to qualify, they should get it. Poland started their campaign with a shock 2-1 loss to Senegal and that seemed to have affected their confidence as they went on to lose their very next game 3-0 against Colombia. Their biggest problem seems to be their defence that cannot seem to stop their opposing strikers from scoring. Robert Lewandoski has also not received enough support upfront making him isolated up front for most of their last two games. it would be a surprise if they are not beaten in this match again.

Nigeria are only the second team to beat Iceland in a competitive fixture when the Super Eagles defeated the Islanders 2-0 in their last game. Iceland’s qualification for the World Cup was as surprising as their run-up to the quarterfinals of  Euro 2016 where they beat England along the way. They drew 1-1 against Argentina in their very first game of Russia 2018, a match that they even saved a Lionel Messi penalty. Their 2-0 loss to Nigeria would have affected their confidence a little, but they beat Croatia on their way to the World Cup and with the Croatians looking to rest players for the next round they could win here and hope that Argentina draws against Nigeria. Croatia have qualified for the next round as Group leaders already except Nigeria beats Argentina by 4 goals and they lose to Iceland, which is very unlikely. The Croatians started their campaign with a fortunate 2-0 win over an inexperienced Nigeria side. Their game against Argentina was where they turned on the style, beating the South Americans 3-0. They can now afford to rest players ahead of the Round of 16. This game, however, would be a tough one for them as they have already lost to Iceland in the World Cup qualifiers, would they allow themselves to be beaten twice by the same team?

Nigeria started their campaign so poorly they were expected to be packing their bags home before this game even kicked off. However, credit to the Super Eagles who showed more hunger in their very next game against Iceland to record a 2-0 win. The Super Eagles had been beaten 2-0 by Croatia in their opening match. Most of their attacking players were off duty that day and they conceded an own goal as well as a penalty. But against Iceland, they put up a fight that stunned the tiny island nation, and they would look to get at least a point in this game so they can progress. Argentina have been plunged into crisis after their poor start to the World Cup. They drew 1-1 against Iceland in their first game before being thumped 3-0 by Croatia in their next match. Nigeria’s win over Iceland has given them hope of making the next round, however, they have not always found it easy to beat the Super Eagles. They have met each other in the last four consecutive World Cups, with the Argentines winning each of those matches, but Nigeria won 4-2 the last time they met in a friendly game.

Australia were expected to have exited the World Cup by now when the draws were made, but the Socceroos have surprised us all, can they make it to the next round with a win here? They lost their first game 2-1 to France thanks in part to an unfortunate own goal in the 80th minute having battled back from going a goal down. Their second game against Denmark was an improvement from the first as they came from an early goal down again to draw 1-1. Both of their goals have been penalties, but what they lack is scoring goals from the open, they more than make up for it is their character. Peru’s first World Cup in over 30 years has been an unlucky one. In their first game they outplayed Denmark, missed a penalty and had 17 attempts at goal, but could not score a single goal only to lose the game 1-0. Their very next game saw them come up against France and they still lost the game rather harshly, 1-0. They would have packed their bags by the time they step on to the field for this game, however, ending this competition with a goal and a win would be a fitting way to bow out.